Gear-shift for an electric motor.



I B. M. LEECE.

GEAR SHIFT FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, I913- E2 ented Mar. 21, 1916.

Y W N. MN J Q o k 1 3% w *N x? n w .w m m Z MW 6 7 7 1 W 7 NJ 5 v I Zi/ Z erzr IO N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENNETT M. fence, or CLEVELAND, 01110, ASSIGNOR TO- THE LEECE-NEVILLE COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, 01110, A conrom'rroiv or OHIO.

GEAR-SHIFT FOR, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, BENNETT M. LEECE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gear-Shift for an Electric Motor, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertalns to make and use the same.

The invention comprises a gear shift for an electric motor in combination with electric switches, wherein the first switch is manually operated and the second switch is controlled by the movements of'the driving pinion, and is preferably electrically and automatically operated, and is especially useful for shifting gears where the electric motor is used for cranking an internal combustion engine as on an automobile or boat, the return movement being provided by a spring. In this device a magnet is provided to operate the gear shift simultaneously with turning on the current to the electric motor.

In order to have the intermeshing of the gears take place smoothly and without damage, a rheostat is made part of the device and this rheostat is so arranged that the first switching contact is operated manually to turn the current into the motor circuit through the resistance, and the succeeding switching contact which carries the full current to the-motor is operated automatically by said shifting device at a predetermined position of the gears after the gears are in mesh. The great advantage of this arrangement is that it is out of the power of the operator to turn on the full current, thus protecting the gears from damage froma too sudden and powerful action of the motor before they are properly in mesh. The full current is turned on automatically by the shifting mechanism as hereinhefore stated. and the resistance coil is protected from burning out by this arrangement. since a circuit around this coil is automatically closed by the operation of the shifting de vice.

The invention also includes means for ad justing the position of the automatically operated switch contact member relative to the position of the shifting device, whereby the full current is turned fully on through Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 2, 1913. Serial No. 771,227.

the switch contacts at a predetermined position of the gears.

The invention is hereinafter further described, shown in the accompanying drawlugs and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In'the accompanying drawings Figure 1 1s. a side elevation of the motor provided with the electrically controlled shifting mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan view of'the switch operated by the shifting mechanism; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View showing'the electric circuits.

In these views 1 is the motor armature, 2 are the field windings, 3 is the frame of the electric motor in which the motor shaft 4 is mounted, 5 is a driving pinion on the motor shaft, 6 isa driven gear of larger size upon a parallel shaft 7. 8 is thedrivmg plIllOIl' for a fly Wheel and is .slidable upon a key 8 upon this-shaft.

9 is the fly wheel having the marginal spur gear G thereon, with which the pinion 8 is adapted to engage.

19 is a shifting arm adapted to move the pinion 8 into and out of engagement'with the fly wheel gear G. This shifting arm is automatically operated when current is turned through the coil of an electromagnet 12 by the closing of an armature 11, so that as soon as the motor is started by the man- ,ually operated switch S, the shifting arm will simultaneously operate the shifting mechanism. To accomplish this action the shifting arm 10 is pivoted at one end upon theouter end of the armature 11. and is also plvoted upon a stationary member 12, and

intermediate between its ends, so that its outer end will respond to each movement of the armature. The action is such that when the motor is running the shifting arm will retain the pinion 8 and the gear 9 in engagement but when the magnet is demagnetized by opening the switch S a spring or springs 13 will return the arm to disconnect said pinion from the ear.'

A resistance coil 14 is shown in the motor circuit and causes the motor to operate slowly until the gears are in good engagement with each other, but as soon as the shifting arm has moved to insure complete engagement between the pinion 8 and fly -wheel gear a projection 15 conveniently attached to the gear 8 will engage an extremity 161 of a sliding rod, 16, and intr0- duce a conductor or contact member 17 between the terminals 18 and 19 in the motor field circuit, and in this manner will turn the full operating circuit into the electric motor. By means of ascrew thread B and clamping nuts B, B, upon the sliding rod 16 the position of the contacts 17 17, can be adjusted relative to the position of the shifting device mechanism. A spring 20 returns the rod and opens the switching contacts when the manually operated switch is open.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In atgear shifting device, a motor circuit, a resistance in the motor circuit, shifting mechanism operatively connected in shunt to the motor circuit, a manually controlled switch for closing the motor circuit through said resistance and an automatically acting switch for closing the motor circuit independently of said resistance, said automatically acting switch adapted to close said circuit at a predetermined position of the shifting mechanism.

,2. In a gear shifting device, an electric motor, a resistance in the motor circuit, an electrically operated shifting mechanism, a manually operated switch adapted to energize the motor through said resistance, and also the shifting mechanism, and aswitch operated by said shifting mechanism to close the motor circuit independently of said resistance, and means for returning said shiftving mechanism to its normal position.

3. In a gear shifting device for an electric motor, an electromagnet, a shifting arm operated by said electromagnet, a manually operated switch in the circuits of said motor and electromagnet, a resistance in the motor circuit, a switch operated by said shifting arm, said switch adapted to close said motor circuit around said resistance, and means for adjusting said switch to control the closing of said lastmentioned motor circuit relative to the movements of said shifting arm, and means for returning said shifting arm and switch contact operated thereby to their original positions. V

4. In a gear shifting device for an electric motor, an electromagnet, a shifting arm operated by said electromagnet, a manually operated switch in the circuits of said motor and electromagnet, a resistance in the motor circuit and a switch operated by said shifting arm, said switch adapted to close the motor circuit around said resistance and means for returning said shifting arm to its original position.

5. In a'gear shifting device, a motor circuit, a resistance in said circuit, a shifting device in shunt to said motor circuit, a primary operated switch for closing said motor circuit through said resistance,and a subsequently operated switch for closing said circuit around said resistance, said subsequently acting switch operatively connected with said shifting device..

6. In a gear shifting device, a motor circuit, a resistance in said circuit, a shifting device in shunt to said motor circuit a primary operated switch for closing said circuit through said resistance,-and a subsequently acting switch adapted to close said circuit around said resistance in-said motor circuit, at a predetermined position of said shifting device.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 16th day of May, 1913.

Gno. S. Corn, WM. M. MOUWE. 

